FoosTalk Live | Ep 233 | Louisiana State Recap

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[00:00:33] Hi, this is Tom Robinson.

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[00:02:00] And here we are live once again on Foos Talk Live.

[00:02:05] It's episode number 233.

[00:02:07] And of course, we're going to talk about foosball tonight as always.

[00:02:10] Of course, tonight being a slightly different episode just because, well, tonight is the final day of the Louisiana State Championships.

[00:02:19] And, of course, when you're talking about foosball, it always pays to have somebody by your side who wants to talk about foosball,

[00:02:25] who just loves the game, who just happens to be driving away from the Louisiana State Championships in his car in Louisiana.

[00:02:36] Here's Randy Raposo.

[00:02:37] Hello, Randy.

[00:02:38] Hey, Tom.

[00:02:39] I don't know how much I love foosball today, but I'll talk about it.

[00:02:43] Uh-oh.

[00:02:43] I'll talk about it.

[00:02:44] Oh, I sent a little, just a little discontent there in your voice.

[00:02:49] Just a little bit.

[00:02:50] A little bit.

[00:02:51] No, it's a lot.

[00:02:53] Well, can I say that I took a great deal of pleasure in watching a live feed last evening when you were playing,

[00:03:01] you and Chris Folsom.

[00:03:04] Now, I don't know the name of the people that you were playing against,

[00:03:08] but it was a pretty damn good match, I have to say.

[00:03:14] Did it go five games?

[00:03:16] It did go five games.

[00:03:17] It did go.

[00:03:18] So that was Shan Coffey, who's a Louisiana State Hall of Famer.

[00:03:24] Yes.

[00:03:24] I think he was inducted last year.

[00:03:25] Yes.

[00:03:27] For people who don't know, Shan Coffey, late 90s, early 2000s,

[00:03:34] was he was an up-and-coming goalie on tour, a great goalie, played with Lewis Cartwright.

[00:03:39] I think he won a major.

[00:03:42] I don't remember which one, but Shan is still out.

[00:03:46] Won pro doubles in Louisiana a couple years ago with a guy named Safi Scheiber.

[00:03:50] Okay.

[00:03:51] Shan is still a solid goalie.

[00:03:54] And then his forward's name is H.P. Perkins, who's a local guy down here, a high-rated expert.

[00:03:59] Right.

[00:04:01] Yeah, I've known H.P., a long-time solid guy.

[00:04:03] I love H.P.

[00:04:04] He was good.

[00:04:05] A good dude.

[00:04:06] Yeah, man.

[00:04:06] He shot lights out for about two and a half games, man.

[00:04:10] Yes.

[00:04:10] I could have blocked him.

[00:04:10] Chris could have blocked him.

[00:04:11] Yep.

[00:04:12] But it was a tough match.

[00:04:14] That was to go to fifth and open.

[00:04:16] So, yeah, that was a tough one, man.

[00:04:20] Yeah.

[00:04:20] That was a tough one.

[00:04:21] I had my fingers crossed there for a bit because the forward was just killing it.

[00:04:27] He was just on fire.

[00:04:31] Now, you notice, though, when you and Chris switched at one point, Chris was able to take away his five row.

[00:04:38] Yep.

[00:04:38] So, I think that kind of turned the tide a bit.

[00:04:42] I think maybe that diminished the other forward's level of confidence.

[00:04:47] But then you turned it on as you got to that last game.

[00:04:52] And suddenly it was like, okay, this is in the bag.

[00:04:57] Well, so this is the thing about Chris and I.

[00:05:01] One of the reasons I really just love playing with Chris so much, our games are so different.

[00:05:06] And our offense is different.

[00:05:09] Our defense is different.

[00:05:10] Our approach is different.

[00:05:11] So, you know, we can both play either position.

[00:05:15] So, playing us is going to be tough no matter what.

[00:05:19] So, when we do switch, it's just going to be a different look.

[00:05:23] And so, you know, we have the ability to sometimes just make a switch and get a steal.

[00:05:30] And again, Chris, there's no ego.

[00:05:33] You know, I don't have an itch.

[00:05:34] Whatever we got to do to win, man.

[00:05:36] So, you know, we played better yesterday than we did today.

[00:05:41] Today was a little bit more of a struggle.

[00:05:43] Okay.

[00:05:43] And if I could just, I'm going to rant.

[00:05:47] I'm going to vent.

[00:05:48] I'm going to talk a little bit here, Tom, about a couple of things.

[00:05:52] All right.

[00:05:52] Okay.

[00:05:53] The tournament, it was good, right?

[00:05:57] The people are great always.

[00:05:59] When you come to the South for a tournament, the people are always great.

[00:06:02] That's one of the main things, right?

[00:06:04] Right.

[00:06:06] The tables were super inconsistent.

[00:06:10] The balls were inconsistent.

[00:06:13] That was just, that was an issue.

[00:06:16] Some things happened this weekend that were pretty cool.

[00:06:20] Husband and wife played each other in the finals of expert singles.

[00:06:23] Miriam and Cal played each other in the finals of expert singles, which was pretty cool.

[00:06:27] Oh, that's awesome.

[00:06:28] Okay.

[00:06:29] Yeah.

[00:06:30] Randall Stelly and Isabel Stelly won expert doubles, which was great.

[00:06:34] Father, you know, father-daughter team winning expert doubles.

[00:06:37] Right.

[00:06:38] There was a bunch of cool stuff that happened this weekend.

[00:06:42] So, but one thing, you know, and I really, I really, really hope this is something that

[00:06:47] Ryan addresses.

[00:06:51] Just, I'm sick and tired of people cheating, Tom.

[00:06:56] Like, I'm just sick and tired of people cheating.

[00:06:58] Okay.

[00:06:58] It's like, so, okay, I have a nephew.

[00:07:01] He's four years old, right?

[00:07:03] I, he's a child.

[00:07:04] He's four years old.

[00:07:05] When we play games, right?

[00:07:07] Yep.

[00:07:08] I tell him, these are the rules.

[00:07:09] These are the rules.

[00:07:10] And he abides by the rules.

[00:07:11] He knows the rules and it's not an issue.

[00:07:13] Yeah.

[00:07:14] But yet, we're adults playing a game with rules.

[00:07:17] And for whatever reason, people struggle to abide by the rules.

[00:07:22] Huh.

[00:07:22] Or they, they think, they think that the rules are, you know, I'm not, I'm not banging the

[00:07:29] wall.

[00:07:29] I'm not, I'm not doing this or I'm not doing that.

[00:07:32] I had an issue in a match today where three balls in, somebody did something.

[00:07:40] Chris and I looked at each other.

[00:07:42] Their partner looked up every, we all knew it was illegal and they wanted to argue about

[00:07:47] it.

[00:07:47] And it's like, why are we arguing?

[00:07:49] It's what you did was illegal.

[00:07:51] Well, I don't think it was.

[00:07:53] Well, the other three people involved agree.

[00:07:57] So I'm not understanding.

[00:07:58] And then it's like, well, I don't really understand the rule.

[00:08:01] I don't know the rule.

[00:08:02] Then why are you arguing?

[00:08:03] Why are you arguing?

[00:08:05] Right?

[00:08:05] I just, I don't, but there was officials called all weekend.

[00:08:11] It really wasn't too bad finding official, like Mary Molly, shout out to Mary.

[00:08:16] She officially, she officiated a bunch of matches this weekend.

[00:08:18] She did a good job.

[00:08:19] Okay.

[00:08:19] Um, I, I really hope Ryan tightens up.

[00:08:23] Like he, he makes officiating.

[00:08:25] Like if you're, if you're an official and you're at a tournament, like, I hope he makes

[00:08:29] it where like, this is, these are the officials.

[00:08:31] If they're, if an official is needed, you go officiate unless you're in the match.

[00:08:36] So it's not a struggle to get an official.

[00:08:38] But I really, one thing I really, really hope, man, is that like, if you're a foosball

[00:08:43] player, right?

[00:08:44] If you're listening to this and you, you want to be better at foosball, like you just,

[00:08:49] you're, you're striving to improve your game, right?

[00:08:52] Yep.

[00:08:53] Start tomorrow.

[00:08:55] Go to the ITSF website.

[00:08:56] Download the rules.

[00:08:57] Read the rules.

[00:08:58] Read them.

[00:08:59] Right?

[00:08:59] Understand them.

[00:09:00] If you have questions, ask, ask people, ask, ask officials, ask Jerry Todd, ask Donald

[00:09:07] Wilson, uh, tournament directors, ask other people that officiate to, to explain them to

[00:09:12] you if you don't understand them completely.

[00:09:15] Right?

[00:09:15] And then when you, when you play, you'll have a better understanding of the rules and how

[00:09:22] they're interpreted.

[00:09:23] Okay.

[00:09:23] So again, when, when, when you're playing in a match and somebody is banging the wall,

[00:09:30] right?

[00:09:30] Yes.

[00:09:30] That is considered a reset.

[00:09:32] When they're banging the wall, when you're passing, right?

[00:09:35] That's considered a jar.

[00:09:37] Well, I don't think it affected your pass.

[00:09:38] Well, this is the thing, right?

[00:09:41] It affects my ability to catch the pass.

[00:09:43] Well, you weren't close to it.

[00:09:45] Again, it affects my ability to catch the pass.

[00:09:48] Right.

[00:09:48] If you want to win that bad that you have to cheat, again, this isn't monopoly, right?

[00:09:53] We're not playing Uno.

[00:09:55] We're, we're, we're traveling hundreds, some of us thousands of miles, spending money,

[00:09:59] time away from our families because we're competitive and we want to compete.

[00:10:02] Right?

[00:10:03] Again, I, I, I'm never going to cheat you.

[00:10:05] It's foosball.

[00:10:06] I want to play by the rules, right?

[00:10:07] If you play better than me and you beat me, congratulations.

[00:10:12] Right?

[00:10:12] Yes.

[00:10:12] I'm never going to be mad if somebody outplays me.

[00:10:14] But if you cheat me, every fiber of my being, right, wants to, wants to hurt you physically.

[00:10:23] I'm just being honest, Tom.

[00:10:24] It drives me, it drives me.

[00:10:25] And the thing is, Tom, I'm not 17 anymore.

[00:10:28] I have a wife and a family.

[00:10:30] I have too much to lose to do that.

[00:10:33] Yes.

[00:10:33] So I have to just suck it up.

[00:10:34] I have to suck it up.

[00:10:35] And it pisses me off because again, I'm not going to, I'm not going to cheat you.

[00:10:40] Right?

[00:10:40] If winning means that much to you, dude, I mean, look again, practice and get better.

[00:10:46] Read the rules, practice and get better.

[00:10:48] That's really all you got to do.

[00:10:49] Cause this is the thing.

[00:10:50] If you want to start banging walls, dude, believe me, I'll rip this rod out of this table.

[00:10:54] You'll never get the ball.

[00:10:55] Right?

[00:10:56] And then, and then it's going to be an issue and we're going to argue, we're going to

[00:10:59] complain.

[00:10:59] I just, I, you know, I love foosball.

[00:11:02] I do, man.

[00:11:02] I love foosball.

[00:11:03] I just hate it when it gets like this.

[00:11:05] It makes it not fun.

[00:11:07] Not fun at all.

[00:11:08] And that's why, that's why I'm on my way home, Tom.

[00:11:11] That's why, cause I couldn't even stay and hang out, dude.

[00:11:14] I was so, I was in such a bad mood.

[00:11:16] That's, that's disappointing to say the least, you know, uh, it's, you know, it's, it's a,

[00:11:23] it's a, it's a, it's a professional state level tournament and this should never be a

[00:11:27] problem, but sometimes it is.

[00:11:31] Oh, and this is the thing I could see at a local, you know, you got that guy at a local,

[00:11:35] you know, who gets a little rough and it's like, and that's the thing, man, we're playing

[00:11:39] this team and the first game, you know, we beat them and it wasn't bad.

[00:11:43] And then the second game, they, they, they started getting a little rough and they got

[00:11:48] some breaks and they won.

[00:11:49] And it was whatever.

[00:11:50] It wasn't a big deal.

[00:11:52] And then the third game they switched and then the forward was just rough.

[00:11:55] And I told him, I said, I'm telling you now in case something happens, you're banging

[00:11:59] the wall, you're being rough.

[00:12:00] Okay.

[00:12:00] I'll watch it.

[00:12:01] And he never stopped.

[00:12:03] He never watched it.

[00:12:04] And then it became an issue.

[00:12:05] And then I'm not banging the wall.

[00:12:07] And then as soon as the ref came, he didn't bang the wall anymore.

[00:12:10] There was no more wall banging.

[00:12:11] So don't tell me.

[00:12:12] Yeah.

[00:12:13] You don't know what you're doing.

[00:12:15] Like that's, again, that is the, it's the definition of cheating.

[00:12:18] Yes.

[00:12:19] The definition of cheating.

[00:12:20] Thinking that you can get away with it.

[00:12:22] That's, that's the idea that when there's the opportunity and then when there's not the

[00:12:27] opportunity, does that person do continue the same behavior?

[00:12:30] 100%.

[00:12:31] 100%.

[00:12:31] So understand something, Tom.

[00:12:33] And like, I keep a list of players that I will not play with our ref ever, ever, ever,

[00:12:38] ever, ever, ever, ever.

[00:12:39] Yeah.

[00:12:39] And a few people got on my list this weekend, dude.

[00:12:42] So, you know, because again, I tell people, if anybody, look, if you ever want to call

[00:12:47] a ref on me, I'm okay, cool.

[00:12:49] I'll pay it.

[00:12:50] It's never going to be an issue for me.

[00:12:51] Because understand something, if I get you, I will give you the ball.

[00:12:55] It's, I understand.

[00:12:57] It is what it is.

[00:12:58] Right.

[00:12:58] But if we're playing the whole match and everybody's playing and it's like, you're rough, I'm rough,

[00:13:03] it is what it is.

[00:13:04] But now it's 4-4 and you think I got you?

[00:13:08] Again, if I got you, you don't have to say anything.

[00:13:11] If I got you, I'm going to give you the ball.

[00:13:14] That's right.

[00:13:14] But now you think I got you?

[00:13:16] I think, again, this is why.

[00:13:19] Even if there's a question, right?

[00:13:21] So like you say, it's 4-4 and the opposing team says, oh man, you just got me.

[00:13:26] I mean, what I'm typically going to do, give them the benefit of the doubt and go, okay,

[00:13:30] that's cool.

[00:13:31] You're right.

[00:13:32] I got you.

[00:13:33] No problem.

[00:13:33] No argument.

[00:13:34] You know, turn the ball over.

[00:13:36] Even if necessarily you may not think it happened, but it could have.

[00:13:40] So especially in the heat of battle.

[00:13:42] So I think if somebody says, hey, I think you got me, I think that's kind of a moment

[00:13:47] where you're going to say, okay, I'm going to err on the side of caution here and say,

[00:13:51] okay, you know, no problem.

[00:13:54] Oh, dude, Kevin Walker came out last time I was at Massachusetts, he came out to play.

[00:13:59] And he said, I got him.

[00:14:00] And I was like, you think I actually didn't even move?

[00:14:02] He said, I think you got me.

[00:14:03] And I gave him the ball.

[00:14:04] And I told him, I said, I think you're ugly.

[00:14:06] I didn't get you.

[00:14:07] You're ugly.

[00:14:07] And I think you smell bad.

[00:14:09] And I gave him the ball.

[00:14:10] I gave him the ball.

[00:14:11] Exactly.

[00:14:11] No, it's just, again, it's those things, man.

[00:14:15] And this is how I honestly, Tom, this is how I approach it, right?

[00:14:18] The ball is round.

[00:14:19] It's going to go where it's supposed to go, right?

[00:14:21] It always ends up where it's supposed to be.

[00:14:23] Yep.

[00:14:24] If they weren't supposed to get the ball, you're going to get it back anyway.

[00:14:27] That's literally how I feel about it.

[00:14:29] Yeah.

[00:14:30] Yeah, yeah.

[00:14:30] Because it's just food.

[00:14:32] Like, I don't ever want to get mad and argue over football.

[00:14:35] I really don't, dude.

[00:14:36] I'm too old.

[00:14:37] My wife is too short to be angry and stressed out.

[00:14:40] But again, that's why I'm now driving five hours home on a Sunday night when I could be in there playing pickup games and hanging out with my friends.

[00:14:46] I'm just driving home because I would rather go home and be next to my wife and my dog than be in that room with those people.

[00:14:52] I completely get what you're saying there, and that's a very frustrating situation.

[00:14:56] I just want to chime in with our viewers on Twitch TV tonight.

[00:15:02] Clay Toomey is providing a great pro tip.

[00:15:05] He says, put a camera on your matches.

[00:15:08] It doesn't matter if it's table 37.

[00:15:10] A ref can make a call from the video.

[00:15:14] Which, you know what?

[00:15:15] That's not a bad idea.

[00:15:18] And you know what, Clay?

[00:15:20] So again, what Modern Foos does, I wish I could play all my matches on table one, dude.

[00:15:26] Yep.

[00:15:26] Because their stuff is great.

[00:15:30] But again, what Clay is saying is 100% true, right?

[00:15:35] But there are stupid people out there that they'll argue that.

[00:15:38] They will argue that with you, right?

[00:15:40] And you could show them the rule, and they're still going to argue.

[00:15:42] It doesn't matter.

[00:15:43] Because, again, there are foosball players out there.

[00:15:45] They're just knuckleheads.

[00:15:47] Yeah.

[00:15:47] And you know who you are.

[00:15:48] I don't have to say your name.

[00:15:49] You know who you are, knuckleheads.

[00:15:51] So, again, it's just, you know, it sucks all the fun out of it, Tom.

[00:15:57] It really does.

[00:15:57] It does.

[00:15:58] It really does.

[00:15:59] You know, so I'm going to drive home in a bad mood.

[00:16:02] I'm going to be pretty pissed off.

[00:16:04] Well, come on.

[00:16:05] I mean, you...

[00:16:06] And I'm going to stulk.

[00:16:07] I'm going to stulk.

[00:16:08] It's what it is.

[00:16:09] I should have played better.

[00:16:10] Realistically, I should have just played better.

[00:16:13] So...

[00:16:14] Well, okay.

[00:16:14] So, I grant you that.

[00:16:16] And it's, you know, it's a great weekend.

[00:16:19] Like you say, you get together with your friends, you get together, you know, hang out.

[00:16:22] And it's really the last opportunity for the year at a state level to play.

[00:16:27] You know?

[00:16:28] It's...

[00:16:28] And that's great.

[00:16:29] And, of course, it's Mary Moore's last tournament of all time, quote-unquote.

[00:16:33] Yep.

[00:16:34] By the way, how did that go with the ceremonies, the Hall of Fame ceremonies?

[00:16:39] Okay.

[00:16:39] So, the Hall of Fame ceremony...

[00:16:43] The Hall of Fame ceremony was really nice.

[00:16:45] I was in there for the Hall of Fame ceremony.

[00:16:48] They did a really nice job.

[00:16:49] Three people were inducted.

[00:16:52] There was a couple guys in the back being a little disrespectful.

[00:16:55] Some of the family members got up.

[00:16:56] I thought somebody was going to get beat up.

[00:16:58] Really?

[00:16:58] But, of course...

[00:16:59] Well, of course, I'm not lucky enough to see that, right?

[00:17:02] Nobody got beat up.

[00:17:03] So, the ceremony continued.

[00:17:08] It was really nice.

[00:17:10] You know, it was short and sweet, man.

[00:17:11] It was probably like 30 minutes.

[00:17:14] And I just, you know, I'm not always able to be in there for those.

[00:17:18] Because sometimes, when you're playing so much, those...

[00:17:22] We take those opportunities to go eat.

[00:17:25] Mm-hmm.

[00:17:25] So, but fortunately, because the way this tournament ran, I was done.

[00:17:31] Once we hit fifth, sixth, and open, I was done for the night.

[00:17:34] So, I got to hang out.

[00:17:37] I had already gone to eat.

[00:17:38] I got to hang out.

[00:17:39] I stuck around.

[00:17:40] And it's just, it's really, really...

[00:17:43] It just gives you some perspective.

[00:17:45] You know, it was really nice to be in there.

[00:17:47] Sure.

[00:17:47] For that induction.

[00:17:49] Because it's like, you know, these are people that have given so much to foosball.

[00:17:54] And, you know, they're, it's like, this is like family.

[00:18:00] You know, again, foosball is like, and I know I don't know these people, but it's, you know,

[00:18:04] I really do like to think of foosball as a community, as a family.

[00:18:07] And I know, like I said, some of us, some people are, everybody's different.

[00:18:12] And even tonight, I wanted to, you know, accost a couple of people.

[00:18:16] But at the end of the day, we're all foosball players.

[00:18:18] I just wish some people would learn the rules.

[00:18:20] But anyway, the ceremony was wonderful.

[00:18:23] It was emotional.

[00:18:25] You know, and I, you know, as I grow older, I've been around the sport for a long time.

[00:18:34] You know, I'm sure over the next, you know, several years, I'm going to start seeing people

[00:18:38] I know get inducted and, you know, that's exciting and something to look forward to.

[00:18:45] And, you know, it's nice.

[00:18:47] Again, I think it's something we all aspire for.

[00:18:52] Oh, sure.

[00:18:53] We aspire to be something.

[00:18:55] And it's not something that's going to happen to all of us.

[00:18:58] So when it does happen to somebody, you know, you know, it's nice to appreciate and enjoy for them.

[00:19:04] So, again, the tournament, the tournament ran well.

[00:19:07] Of course, you know, Donald does a great job.

[00:19:11] They had a nice crew.

[00:19:14] So, you know, again, Donna Carroll was there, Arthur Mitchell.

[00:19:18] They kind of took care of everything.

[00:19:21] Terry Fightmaster was doing table maintenance.

[00:19:24] Kenneth Dale doing table maintenance.

[00:19:26] You know, there were people from all over the country at this tournament.

[00:19:29] There was a pretty good-sized Northeast contingent.

[00:19:33] There was a Northwest.

[00:19:34] Justin Shaw was there with his wife.

[00:19:40] He's a nice guy.

[00:19:40] Robbie, say his last name.

[00:19:43] Good player.

[00:19:44] Having a brain fart.

[00:19:48] I actually just talked to him before I left.

[00:19:51] You'll get it.

[00:19:52] It'll come to you.

[00:19:53] Don't worry.

[00:19:54] Yeah, I could check the brackets.

[00:19:56] But, you know, it's the first time I've actually – I've seen him play a bunch.

[00:20:00] We're on opposite sides of the country.

[00:20:02] But it's the first time we've ever been in a room at the same time.

[00:20:06] You know, nice guy.

[00:20:07] Good player.

[00:20:08] Is it Robbie Hayes?

[00:20:10] Robbie Hayes.

[00:20:11] Thank you, sir.

[00:20:12] Yeah.

[00:20:12] Robbie Hayes.

[00:20:13] Thanks, Kyle.

[00:20:15] Yeah.

[00:20:15] Robbie had a nice – he had a good weekend.

[00:20:17] Open signals.

[00:20:18] He had a good finish.

[00:20:19] But, I mean, there were people from all over the country there.

[00:20:22] You know, a lot of people came to, you know, to play and be there, enjoy Mary's last tournament and hang out.

[00:20:29] Like I said, the tournament was fun.

[00:20:31] It was good.

[00:20:32] The tables – the tables were inconsistent.

[00:20:35] Again, look, Ryan's taking over.

[00:20:38] I got to talk to Ryan for a couple minutes this weekend.

[00:20:42] Ryan is excited, and I think we're all very excited for him.

[00:20:45] Yes.

[00:20:46] But he has got – he's got a pretty steep mountain to climb with, you know, just some of the things going on, the inconsistency.

[00:20:56] So, the tables – there was a couple of tables that played great.

[00:20:59] But for the most part, every other table and they played different.

[00:21:01] Every other table and they had something that was – something that wasn't right.

[00:21:06] And then, you know, men issues, rod issues, ball issues.

[00:21:11] For some reason, the balls – there were no balls and the balls there were – they were bad.

[00:21:16] And I ended up bringing about a dozen balls from home.

[00:21:19] Okay.

[00:21:20] That I – I have a stack of refurbs and I picked out about a dozen good ones and I brought them with me.

[00:21:26] And nobody complained about my balls, right?

[00:21:29] I've never had issues.

[00:21:30] No one's ever complained about my balls, Tom.

[00:21:33] Not unless you put them in their face, you know.

[00:21:36] Well, anyway, so this weekend in particular, you know, I – in two days, in two events, I went through six balls.

[00:21:46] Wow.

[00:21:46] Okay.

[00:21:47] And, you know, and again, Saturday was better than Sunday.

[00:21:52] Saturday was better than Sunday for sure.

[00:21:55] You know, but Ryan – Ryan, I think this is a task that Ryan is up to.

[00:22:03] But ultimately, if we're trying to be a professional sport and we're trying to portray this level of professionalism,

[00:22:10] the number one thing that needs to be addressed, my opinion, is what we're playing on.

[00:22:15] The equipment.

[00:22:16] What we're playing on needs to be consistent.

[00:22:17] Oh.

[00:22:17] And it is not.

[00:22:19] Right now, it is not.

[00:22:20] It's a huge deal.

[00:22:22] I mean, just – you think about, okay, apparently the Valley Dynamo, the way they manufacture the balls,

[00:22:28] the machine they use is not working.

[00:22:31] Is that – I don't know the exact story behind that, so I don't know the facts.

[00:22:36] But what is going on there?

[00:22:38] Do you know?

[00:22:42] Nobody told me anything this weekend.

[00:22:44] Okay.

[00:22:45] I was just so – I got a call from Bruce Weldon on Friday before I left the house.

[00:22:50] And he said, hey, man, there's no balls here.

[00:22:53] He said, if you got balls, bring them.

[00:22:55] I was like, okay.

[00:22:56] So, like I said, I grabbed a dozen.

[00:22:57] I grabbed a dozen and I brought them.

[00:22:59] And so there's definitely – there's a quality control issue and there's a manufacturer – well, again,

[00:23:11] before quality control, it's manufacturing.

[00:23:13] So there's a manufacturing issue and then there's a quality control issue.

[00:23:16] So, you know, there was – there are some pretty glaring inconsistencies in some of the tables.

[00:23:23] Yes.

[00:23:23] And, again, some of these tables – some of these tables now that we're seeing are a couple years old.

[00:23:30] Yeah.

[00:23:30] You know?

[00:23:31] Yeah.

[00:23:31] I've heard that too.

[00:23:33] So, you know, a couple of these tables there, you know, there's names on them from the Bardo.

[00:23:41] So, we've seen these tables now for a couple of years.

[00:23:43] Mm-hmm.

[00:23:44] And they're just – you know, they're rough.

[00:23:48] They're in rough shape.

[00:23:49] They're in rough shape, Dom.

[00:23:50] So, I don't know – I don't know what's going to happen.

[00:23:54] You know, again, I'm excited for what Ryan's going to do.

[00:23:57] Another thing too is like – again, this is the big question.

[00:24:01] For me, I have questions and I'm just – you know, I'm patiently waiting for answers.

[00:24:06] Mm-hmm.

[00:24:07] I want to know the points.

[00:24:09] I want to know what's going to happen with the tables.

[00:24:11] You know, I know Ryan is going to put out a quality product.

[00:24:16] Yes.

[00:24:16] Right?

[00:24:16] Like, as far as perspective.

[00:24:18] As far as perspective, right?

[00:24:19] Or from our players' perspective, right?

[00:24:23] I mean the optics.

[00:24:24] But from our players' perspective, like, am I going to go – and not just – it's not just about having a good time for me.

[00:24:31] I want to go compete.

[00:24:32] Am I going to be able to go compete at the highest level because all of the equipment is the same?

[00:24:38] Yeah.

[00:24:38] It's consistent.

[00:24:39] Yeah.

[00:24:39] Just consistent.

[00:24:40] Well, I mean, any professional sport that wants their best of the best to compete state level or even national level,

[00:24:50] to expect them to play with something that's substandard that doesn't work right?

[00:24:55] I mean, can you imagine if you're playing tennis and the rackets keep breaking or they just – they're bent?

[00:25:03] You know, can you imagine what the –

[00:25:06] I mean –

[00:25:06] There would be a revolt.

[00:25:09] Well, if there's an issue with the ice, we'd fix it, right?

[00:25:21] We'd have the ice remade, right?

[00:25:23] Again, when you – there's – again, what they call it's – it's the home ice advantage, right?

[00:25:29] Because you know your ice, you know your boards, you know your glass, you know your rink.

[00:25:33] But it's – there's a consistency to what you play on, right?

[00:25:36] You go to someone else's rink, someone else's – what they call it, a bond.

[00:25:39] We'll play in someone else's bond, Tom, right?

[00:25:42] The ice – the ice is ice, right?

[00:25:46] But sometimes it's like a bounce off the boards is a little different, right?

[00:25:50] Then the corner – this corner plays a little funny, right?

[00:25:54] But for the most part, the ice is consistent.

[00:25:57] The ice is the ice, right?

[00:25:58] And it's like from table to table, right, I just want – I want the cabinets, the play fields, the rods, and the men to at least be consistent.

[00:26:09] I know things aren't always going to be perfect.

[00:26:12] There's going to be issues.

[00:26:14] But the inconsistencies shouldn't be this glaring.

[00:26:18] I mean, it is brutal.

[00:26:19] So most state-level tournaments, or better, are using, quote-unquote, brand-new tables mostly.

[00:26:26] That's the tradition anyway.

[00:26:28] That's what we're used to.

[00:26:30] Now, if they're using brand-new tables, that's where the inconsistency seems to be coming in with the bent rods

[00:26:36] or the rods that are grinding down the bearings or the men that break.

[00:26:43] And so, like, wait, wait, wait, wait.

[00:26:45] These are brand-new tables.

[00:26:46] What do you mean?

[00:26:47] You know, I mean, people would buy the tables at the end of a tournament for a slightly lower price

[00:26:53] because they're only played on, you know, for one weekend, and that would be a great deal.

[00:26:58] Now, why would you want to buy a table that's brand-new that's already defective?

[00:27:03] Yeah.

[00:27:03] Now, and again, look, this is what I mean, Tom.

[00:27:08] Like I said, it's just things.

[00:27:10] It's optics, things that I see.

[00:27:12] And I know if I see them, other people see them, right?

[00:27:14] Yeah.

[00:27:14] Like, I don't understand why people are flexing two rods when they're shooting.

[00:27:18] Like, before they shoot, they flex a two rod.

[00:27:20] What's the point of that?

[00:27:21] Yeah.

[00:27:21] Like, I'm just saying, if I'm Ryan going forward and I see somebody just flexing their crap out of a two rod,

[00:27:27] dude, I'm making them pay for it.

[00:27:29] Like, yo, dog, you know, like, I'm just saying, I don't get it.

[00:27:34] I don't get it.

[00:27:35] If you're shooting a long pull shot, if you're going bumper to bumper, that rod's going to flex anyway.

[00:27:39] Like, you know, there's torque in the butt.

[00:27:41] But I'm saying, if you're setting up a push shot and you bend the rod down to shoot the push shot before you shoot,

[00:27:46] and I've seen people do it, like, or see people defending and pull the two rod all the way out and bend it up.

[00:27:52] It's like, what's the point of that?

[00:27:55] I don't get that.

[00:27:56] You wouldn't do that at home on your table.

[00:27:58] Yeah.

[00:28:00] Why are you doing that here?

[00:28:01] I'm just, like I said, Tom, I'm on tonight.

[00:28:07] And I'm being nice.

[00:28:08] I'm being nice.

[00:28:09] I'm just in such a bad mood.

[00:28:12] Because, again, dude, it's rare for me to leave a tournament and be in such a bad mood.

[00:28:16] Because I love going to tournaments, man.

[00:28:18] I get to hang out, be with my buddies.

[00:28:20] And like I said, dude, a bunch of dudes from the Northeast came down this weekend.

[00:28:23] We got to hang out.

[00:28:24] Went to Waffle House this morning.

[00:28:26] Like, you know, like, dude, we're just doing what we do, and it's great, and I love it.

[00:28:30] But then it's like, you know, just, ah, dude, it's frustrating, man.

[00:28:35] It's so frustrating.

[00:28:36] I hear you.

[00:28:36] Maybe I should.

[00:28:37] I think Clay's listening.

[00:28:39] Dude, I'm going to quit playing, and I'm just going to commentate with Clay and Adam.

[00:28:43] Hey, you know, a lot worse could happen to you.

[00:28:46] A lot worse.

[00:28:46] Ah, dude.

[00:28:48] Again, I could have been home with my wife this weekend.

[00:28:51] Like, this is the first time ever done, legitimately, in 20-some-odd years of tournament foosball,

[00:28:56] this is the first tournament I've ever been to in December.

[00:28:58] Yeah.

[00:28:59] Legitimately.

[00:29:00] Okay.

[00:29:00] Okay.

[00:29:01] Well, let's hope it's not the last.

[00:29:04] You know?

[00:29:05] I don't know, man.

[00:29:06] Again, it was, you know, I think they were expecting a little bit more, like a bigger turnout.

[00:29:11] I heard they had 20 other tables on hand, just in case more people showed up.

[00:29:14] But it didn't pan out.

[00:29:18] It didn't happen.

[00:29:18] I didn't get a chance to ask Donald how many people.

[00:29:20] I didn't get a chance to ask what the total was.

[00:29:23] Because, like I said, he was in a match when I left.

[00:29:26] Okay.

[00:29:26] I made the round, said goodbye.

[00:29:29] He was in a match.

[00:29:30] I said goodbye.

[00:29:30] And then I just split.

[00:29:33] Well, there was 39 teams in the Open.

[00:29:36] Yeah.

[00:29:37] So, honestly, I'm thinking final numbers.

[00:29:40] I don't think they broke 150.

[00:29:43] Okay.

[00:29:43] I don't think they broke 150.

[00:29:44] Okay.

[00:29:44] I got you.

[00:29:45] Maybe they did.

[00:29:47] Yeah.

[00:29:48] But, you know, it was, again, the competition was stiff.

[00:29:55] It was a good tournament.

[00:29:58] I wish I'd have played better.

[00:29:59] I wish I'd have played better for Chris.

[00:30:01] Oh.

[00:30:01] But.

[00:30:03] This is, don't judge your performance by one tournament.

[00:30:07] You know?

[00:30:08] That's, don't do that to yourself.

[00:30:09] No, no, no, no.

[00:30:11] Dude, I've been doing this long enough.

[00:30:12] I understand.

[00:30:13] But, like I said, it's just, you know, it's a little thing.

[00:30:17] Like I said, dude, three balls into a match, somebody does something that they know it's

[00:30:23] illegal.

[00:30:23] We all know it's illegal.

[00:30:25] And they want to argue.

[00:30:25] It's like, dude, I'm not, like, don't do that.

[00:30:28] Just give the ball up.

[00:30:29] You know what?

[00:30:29] You're screwed up.

[00:30:30] And this is the thing.

[00:30:31] This is the thing they don't understand.

[00:30:32] And I know this guy.

[00:30:33] Right?

[00:30:33] And I got really upset with him.

[00:30:35] And the thing is, like, I didn't raise my voice.

[00:30:37] I was just, I was just like, nah, dude, again, like, you know better.

[00:30:41] And I'm going to talk to him.

[00:30:43] I'm going to let him know.

[00:30:45] Dude, it's so much easier when you just go, you know what?

[00:30:49] You're right here.

[00:30:50] I made a mistake.

[00:30:51] Right?

[00:30:51] Again, so, okay.

[00:30:54] When I was about 22, I got cleaned up.

[00:30:57] I changed my life.

[00:30:58] I got cleaned up.

[00:30:59] But one of the main things that really changed for me, Tom, was I started assuming responsibility

[00:31:03] for my actions.

[00:31:05] Right?

[00:31:05] Right.

[00:31:05] So when I started doing that, my life really, really changed.

[00:31:10] Right?

[00:31:10] Like, when I made decisions, I didn't make them quickly.

[00:31:14] I didn't make them abruptly.

[00:31:16] I didn't make, like, spur of the moment decisions.

[00:31:20] I really started thinking things out because if something goes wrong, I have to be responsible

[00:31:24] for this.

[00:31:25] Right?

[00:31:25] And I really started feeling like an adult at that point.

[00:31:28] Everything started to change.

[00:31:30] So if I make a mistake at work, I tell my boss, like, yeah, it was me.

[00:31:34] I messed up.

[00:31:35] Right?

[00:31:35] I'm going to assume responsibility.

[00:31:37] And that kind of bled out into every aspect of my life.

[00:31:40] So on the foosball table, if I make a mistake, I'm going to own it.

[00:31:44] If I break a rule, I'm going to admit it.

[00:31:47] Yes.

[00:31:47] It's just a part of life.

[00:31:49] So it's like, and I'm going to have this conversation with this person because off the

[00:31:54] table, I legitimately like them.

[00:31:55] On the table, I don't.

[00:31:57] I'm never going to play with them.

[00:31:58] I don't want to play with them.

[00:32:00] On the table.

[00:32:01] But off the table, I do.

[00:32:03] And I'm going to let them know, dude, when you just start going, ah, you know what?

[00:32:06] You're right here.

[00:32:07] Things are going to change.

[00:32:08] People are going to look at you different.

[00:32:09] Yep.

[00:32:10] Right?

[00:32:10] People are expecting a little more.

[00:32:12] And again, the game's just going to change for you a little bit when you start doing that.

[00:32:16] But, you know, what do I know?

[00:32:17] What do I know?

[00:32:18] Who am I?

[00:32:18] Oh, no, no.

[00:32:19] You're absolutely 100% correct.

[00:32:23] This is, this is, if you're going to play a professional sport, understand the rules and play

[00:32:29] about those rules or don't play.

[00:32:31] Or don't play.

[00:32:32] Yeah.

[00:32:33] Yeah.

[00:32:33] Again, again, I still remember, right?

[00:32:36] It was the Celtics won.

[00:32:41] Was it 2010?

[00:32:42] The year the Celtics won?

[00:32:43] Yes.

[00:32:44] I think it was 2010.

[00:32:47] But I still remember that year.

[00:32:48] Big Baby Davis.

[00:32:49] He was at the, somebody was at the free throw line and he was guarding at the free throw

[00:32:52] line.

[00:32:53] And it was live on TV.

[00:32:54] And he was talking about how he effed up.

[00:32:56] I'm not going to say the word, but he said he effed up.

[00:32:58] Okay.

[00:32:58] Wow.

[00:32:59] He's like, I effed up.

[00:33:00] I know I effed up.

[00:33:00] I effed up.

[00:33:01] Again, but it's professional sports, right?

[00:33:04] Yes.

[00:33:04] He knows his role and he knows he messed up and he's assuming responsibility, right?

[00:33:08] Now, again, being a guy who played a sport my whole life, being in a locker room, right?

[00:33:13] Mm-hmm.

[00:33:14] Part of a, part of a team, like being a part of a team, it's like, you know your role, you

[00:33:19] play your role.

[00:33:19] And when you make a mistake, you assume responsibility and you just fix it.

[00:33:22] Right?

[00:33:23] It's not, oh, it's not my fault.

[00:33:25] It was, he didn't do what he was supposed to do.

[00:33:28] So, that doesn't fall.

[00:33:30] Yeah.

[00:33:30] That doesn't float.

[00:33:31] No, dude.

[00:33:31] That doesn't float.

[00:33:32] Yeah.

[00:33:32] Don't pass the buck, right?

[00:33:34] Just assume responsibility.

[00:33:36] And I think a lot of times, Tom, that's why some people like singles more than doubles

[00:33:41] because I only have to be responsible for myself, right?

[00:33:45] So, it's a different, it's just a different, it's a different approach, a different perspective.

[00:33:52] I only have to be responsible for myself.

[00:33:54] I don't have to worry about anybody else.

[00:33:56] Where it doubles, you have to, you know, when you make a mistake, you have to assume responsibility.

[00:34:03] Not go, you know, oh, my goalie played bad.

[00:34:06] My goalie didn't get blocked.

[00:34:08] Like, again, this weekend, Chris and I, there were times where I had shots to win games.

[00:34:13] I had shots to win matches.

[00:34:14] Mm-hmm.

[00:34:16] And we didn't.

[00:34:17] And he's like, dude, I'm sorry.

[00:34:19] Dude, I'm sorry.

[00:34:19] I said, what are you sorry for?

[00:34:20] I had the ball.

[00:34:21] I had the ball.

[00:34:22] I had the ball.

[00:34:23] I should have called a timeout.

[00:34:23] I should have let you shoot the ball.

[00:34:25] Something.

[00:34:25] I should have done something other than get blocked.

[00:34:28] Right.

[00:34:28] So, it's my fault.

[00:34:30] It's my fault.

[00:34:31] It's my fault.

[00:34:31] So, you know.

[00:34:33] Here's the thing.

[00:34:33] You've got, at this stage in your life, you have the emotional maturity to say to your partner,

[00:34:40] hey, listen, I had the ball.

[00:34:42] It was my responsibility to do with it what I was supposed to.

[00:34:45] I failed in that regard.

[00:34:46] You don't need to apologize to me for that.

[00:34:48] That's emotional maturity right there.

[00:34:51] Well, listen.

[00:34:51] This is the thing, Tom.

[00:34:52] I think you're giving me too much credit.

[00:34:54] Maturity is probably not the word.

[00:34:56] Okay?

[00:34:57] Hey, I'm trying to give you a break here.

[00:34:59] Well, you know.

[00:35:00] But, no.

[00:35:02] But, you're absolutely right.

[00:35:03] Because, listen.

[00:35:04] Don't get me wrong.

[00:35:05] When I was, you know, in my early years of foosball, right?

[00:35:10] It's like, you know, my goalie didn't block.

[00:35:14] My goalie didn't clear.

[00:35:14] My goalie didn't.

[00:35:15] Yeah, but what did I do?

[00:35:16] Right?

[00:35:16] Like, there was no self-introspection.

[00:35:19] Is that the right word?

[00:35:20] Yeah.

[00:35:21] Yeah, yeah.

[00:35:21] Yeah, I wasn't.

[00:35:23] I was too concerned with what my partner was doing.

[00:35:25] I wasn't paying attention to how bad I was playing.

[00:35:28] Right.

[00:35:28] So, you know.

[00:35:29] But, again.

[00:35:30] When you start really focusing on what's happening in front of you.

[00:35:35] Right?

[00:35:35] And you control what you can control.

[00:35:37] Right?

[00:35:39] The results are going to be what they are.

[00:35:41] If you're just making good decisions and playing consistently, you're going to start winning the matches you're supposed to win.

[00:35:47] Right?

[00:35:48] So, don't worry about what your partner's doing.

[00:35:50] Don't worry about what the guys on the other side of the table are doing.

[00:35:53] You do what you're supposed to do.

[00:35:55] And the results are going to be there.

[00:35:58] So, I really had to figure that out for myself.

[00:36:01] Just execute to the best of your ability.

[00:36:04] You know, regardless.

[00:36:06] You know?

[00:36:07] So, you know, again, Tom.

[00:36:10] This is why we practice.

[00:36:12] Oh, yeah.

[00:36:13] We practice.

[00:36:14] Oh, yeah.

[00:36:14] So, we can build confidence in execution.

[00:36:17] Right?

[00:36:18] Once you build confidence in execution.

[00:36:20] That's why.

[00:36:21] So, when you build confidence in execution, you're going into a tournament.

[00:36:25] Right?

[00:36:25] Not thinking about execution anymore.

[00:36:27] Now you're thinking about reading defense and trying to figure out the problem in front of you.

[00:36:31] Right?

[00:36:31] Playing the chess match.

[00:36:32] But that's why we.

[00:36:33] And that.

[00:36:34] Exactly.

[00:36:34] And that's why we practice.

[00:36:36] And we practice the right way.

[00:36:38] So, we can build our confidence in execution.

[00:36:40] Mm-hmm.

[00:36:40] So, then.

[00:36:41] Now when we're under pressure and we're in a match.

[00:36:44] Right?

[00:36:44] We don't have to focus on.

[00:36:46] Oh, I need to execute this thing.

[00:36:48] You know you can do it.

[00:36:49] You've done it.

[00:36:50] Right?

[00:36:50] Now you're creating.

[00:36:52] I like to call it a cow.

[00:36:54] You're creating a callus.

[00:36:55] Right?

[00:36:55] Because you've done it so many times.

[00:36:56] Oh, yeah.

[00:36:57] Now you're doing it under pressure.

[00:36:58] You're creating this callus to where, you know, I've dropped this pass before.

[00:37:02] Right?

[00:37:03] It's hurt.

[00:37:04] But now I fixed it and I practiced it and I have confidence in it.

[00:37:07] So, now that 4-4 ball, you're going to catch that 4-4 ball.

[00:37:10] You're going to make that 4-4 shot.

[00:37:11] You know, it's just.

[00:37:14] Again, dude, I love.

[00:37:15] There are so many beautiful things about foosball.

[00:37:18] Yeah.

[00:37:19] You know, figuring it out, man.

[00:37:21] Being in it.

[00:37:21] Watching it.

[00:37:22] Like in that moment and seeing the problem in front of you and trying to solve it.

[00:37:27] And, you know, again, that's hard enough when you're playing good players.

[00:37:31] Right?

[00:37:31] Oh.

[00:37:32] No question.

[00:37:33] But when you're playing people that are banging the damn wall and talking when the ball is in play.

[00:37:38] Talking when the ball is in play.

[00:37:40] That's another one.

[00:37:41] That's another one.

[00:37:42] I want to rip the tool rod out and turn you into a popsicle.

[00:37:46] Right?

[00:37:46] So, anyway.

[00:37:48] That's easily solvable.

[00:37:51] I think.

[00:37:53] I don't know, man.

[00:37:54] I don't know.

[00:37:55] Well.

[00:37:55] I don't know.

[00:37:55] I think.

[00:37:56] It is what it is, buddy.

[00:37:58] Yeah, it is.

[00:37:58] I mean, I'm sorry to hear that, you know, it turned out as rough as it did for you.

[00:38:02] And that's not right.

[00:38:05] However, you know, there's going to be better times, I'm sure, especially for 2025.

[00:38:11] Incidentally, I need to do a shout out.

[00:38:14] Steve Sussman from New England got the rookie doubles title.

[00:38:20] Steve, way to go.

[00:38:22] Steve Sussman, the New Hampshire guy.

[00:38:25] Steve's a nice guy.

[00:38:26] We played some pickup games.

[00:38:27] I just kept telling him how bad he sucks.

[00:38:29] And then he turned around and won rookie doubles.

[00:38:31] Let's go, Steve.

[00:38:31] Right?

[00:38:32] Yeah.

[00:38:32] Oh, man.

[00:38:33] And I saw him recently, in fact.

[00:38:35] And he was like, yeah, I'm going to Louisiana.

[00:38:38] I'm looking forward to playing.

[00:38:39] And, you know, I think he's just as surprised as everybody else that he's got that trophy.

[00:38:44] Man, I'm so happy for him.

[00:38:45] It's just so cool.

[00:38:47] Steve, Steve, Steve, Steve's solid.

[00:38:51] Look, Steve Sussman, super, super nice guy.

[00:38:53] Steve has always been just such a nice guy.

[00:38:56] Just an absolute gentleman.

[00:38:57] I really like Steve.

[00:38:59] That's a great win for Steve.

[00:39:01] Congratulations, man.

[00:39:01] Yeah, awesome.

[00:39:02] Awesome.

[00:39:03] And Dr. Hannah Smith, three-peated this weekend.

[00:39:09] So, open mixed, I believe it was open doubles.

[00:39:12] No, not open doubles.

[00:39:14] Was it women's doubles and women's singles?

[00:39:16] Women's doubles, women's singles, and open mixed.

[00:39:20] Open mixed.

[00:39:21] Yeah, and I think she was in the finals of handicap doubles with Jacob.

[00:39:24] Yes.

[00:39:25] Yep.

[00:39:25] So.

[00:39:26] Yeah.

[00:39:26] And then she and Callum beat Chris and I in the losers of open.

[00:39:31] You know what's funny?

[00:39:31] She told me, she's like, oh, I was going to go duck hunting this week and I wasn't going

[00:39:36] to come.

[00:39:37] And I was like, well, I'm glad you came.

[00:39:40] Because, man, again, I love Hannah.

[00:39:41] I love Racklin.

[00:39:42] I've known Hannah since she was a little girl.

[00:39:43] And she's just, Hannah's so sweet.

[00:39:45] She's great.

[00:39:45] I've always been seeing her, spending time with her.

[00:39:47] But I really wish she went duck hunting this weekend.

[00:39:50] Yeah.

[00:39:51] That would have.

[00:39:54] We just won't tell her that.

[00:39:56] That's all.

[00:39:56] But.

[00:39:57] She'll hear this.

[00:39:58] I'll tell her.

[00:39:59] I'll tell her.

[00:40:00] Yeah.

[00:40:01] No, it's.

[00:40:02] It's.

[00:40:03] She's.

[00:40:03] She's a.

[00:40:04] She's a fierce player, man.

[00:40:05] I mean, I also got a chance to watch a few other matches.

[00:40:09] Sullivan Rue and Shannon Coley playing against Kenny Dale and his partner.

[00:40:15] And that was.

[00:40:16] That was really entertaining.

[00:40:18] Kenny Dale.

[00:40:19] This guy.

[00:40:20] He's so.

[00:40:21] So unpredictable.

[00:40:22] You know, with his.

[00:40:23] His.

[00:40:24] Well, you know, I don't know how he got back in the country.

[00:40:27] I called immigration on him, Tom.

[00:40:29] I thought I had that problem handled.

[00:40:31] And somehow he got.

[00:40:32] He got his way back in.

[00:40:34] And.

[00:40:36] And.

[00:40:36] And.

[00:40:37] You know.

[00:40:37] So I.

[00:40:37] I talked to Ken.

[00:40:38] I said, Kenny, where you been?

[00:40:39] He said, I've been in Europe playing foosball.

[00:40:41] And I'm like.

[00:40:42] I mean, I could tell.

[00:40:43] You know, his game looks good.

[00:40:45] Yeah.

[00:40:45] All Ken does.

[00:40:46] So.

[00:40:47] So.

[00:40:47] But.

[00:40:48] Sullivan.

[00:40:49] And Shannon.

[00:40:50] Second open doubles, man.

[00:40:52] Yeah.

[00:40:52] And.

[00:40:53] You know.

[00:40:53] I think Shannon.

[00:40:54] Shannon's kind of a sleeper.

[00:40:56] I know he's the E-turn master.

[00:40:57] But.

[00:40:58] His goalie game is.

[00:40:59] Is.

[00:40:59] Is really, really improved.

[00:41:01] Oh, yeah.

[00:41:01] And.

[00:41:02] And.

[00:41:03] And.

[00:41:03] And Sullivan.

[00:41:04] Sullivan's just a beast, man.

[00:41:05] Yeah.

[00:41:05] That kid.

[00:41:06] She's such a sweet kid.

[00:41:08] And.

[00:41:08] And I.

[00:41:08] Oh.

[00:41:09] Look.

[00:41:09] Again.

[00:41:10] I always enjoy.

[00:41:12] Hanging out with that kid at tournaments, man.

[00:41:13] She is a riot.

[00:41:14] She is a doll.

[00:41:15] She's sweet.

[00:41:16] Yep.

[00:41:16] But man.

[00:41:17] She is such a fierce competitor.

[00:41:19] Great foosball player.

[00:41:21] You know.

[00:41:21] Shout out to her.

[00:41:22] Her parents, of course.

[00:41:24] Terry.

[00:41:25] I got to spend some time with Terry this weekend.

[00:41:27] Good.

[00:41:28] He's just.

[00:41:29] Dude.

[00:41:29] One of my favorite.

[00:41:30] One of my favorite people to be around at a tournament.

[00:41:33] And.

[00:41:34] You know.

[00:41:34] Like I said, Tom.

[00:41:35] That's.

[00:41:35] That's what I mean, dude.

[00:41:36] It's like.

[00:41:37] You get to be around these people.

[00:41:39] And get to know them.

[00:41:40] Know them personally.

[00:41:41] And just spend time with them.

[00:41:42] Yep.

[00:41:42] And it's always.

[00:41:43] It's always a pleasure.

[00:41:44] Always a good time.

[00:41:46] And.

[00:41:46] And that's the thing I love about it.

[00:41:48] You know.

[00:41:48] Competition aside.

[00:41:50] I.

[00:41:50] That's.

[00:41:50] That's what I love, man.

[00:41:52] So.

[00:41:53] You know.

[00:41:54] All.

[00:41:55] Everything else that happened.

[00:41:57] It is what it is.

[00:41:58] I'm over it.

[00:41:59] Like I said, man.

[00:42:00] I'm going to drive home and sulk.

[00:42:01] And.

[00:42:02] And I'll.

[00:42:03] And I'll be.

[00:42:03] I'll be fine.

[00:42:04] I'll listen.

[00:42:05] I'll listen to some metal.

[00:42:06] And scream.

[00:42:07] And bang my head.

[00:42:08] And then.

[00:42:08] I'll be cool in a couple hours.

[00:42:10] All right.

[00:42:10] All right.

[00:42:11] No.

[00:42:11] It's.

[00:42:12] It is.

[00:42:13] You know.

[00:42:13] When it comes to.

[00:42:15] Really wanting to win.

[00:42:16] You really.

[00:42:17] Really want to win.

[00:42:18] And.

[00:42:19] You're playing by the rules to do that.

[00:42:21] You are doing that.

[00:42:23] Now.

[00:42:23] If somebody else on the other side of the table.

[00:42:25] Decides.

[00:42:25] Well.

[00:42:25] The rules are just kind of a suggestion.

[00:42:28] And they also want to win.

[00:42:29] And they'll break those rules.

[00:42:30] Because.

[00:42:31] Well.

[00:42:31] Hey.

[00:42:32] Whatever.

[00:42:32] Nobody's looking.

[00:42:34] Um.

[00:42:34] That ain't you.

[00:42:35] That's not on you.

[00:42:36] Yeah.

[00:42:37] No.

[00:42:37] Well.

[00:42:38] And you know what's also not a suggestion?

[00:42:42] What's that?

[00:42:42] Yeah.

[00:42:43] You want to know what else was.

[00:42:43] It was also me dragging you outside.

[00:42:47] So again.

[00:42:48] And this is what I mean.

[00:42:49] I look.

[00:42:50] I don't pretend.

[00:42:51] I don't pretend to be.

[00:42:52] I don't pretend to be some.

[00:42:54] I'm not like some super tough guy.

[00:42:55] I've been beat up so many times.

[00:42:57] Tom.

[00:42:58] I really have.

[00:42:58] I don't want to do.

[00:42:59] I don't want to fight with anything.

[00:43:00] I really don't.

[00:43:01] Right.

[00:43:01] It's just.

[00:43:02] This is.

[00:43:02] This is the thing.

[00:43:03] It just.

[00:43:04] It just makes me.

[00:43:05] It makes me want to be that way.

[00:43:07] And I don't.

[00:43:07] I don't want to be that way.

[00:43:08] It's just.

[00:43:09] I can.

[00:43:10] I grew up.

[00:43:10] I grew up in a place where like violence solved everything.

[00:43:13] And I'm not that guy.

[00:43:14] I don't want to be that guy.

[00:43:15] I just want to play football.

[00:43:16] Yeah.

[00:43:16] So it's like.

[00:43:17] Don't.

[00:43:17] You know.

[00:43:18] Again.

[00:43:19] Dude.

[00:43:19] I just.

[00:43:19] I don't get it.

[00:43:20] I don't get it.

[00:43:21] Why people feel the need.

[00:43:22] They have.

[00:43:22] They have to play like that.

[00:43:24] Like just.

[00:43:25] Dude.

[00:43:25] Just.

[00:43:26] Play by the rules.

[00:43:27] Right.

[00:43:27] Yeah.

[00:43:27] That's.

[00:43:28] That's.

[00:43:28] That's.

[00:43:29] That's bottom line.

[00:43:30] You know.

[00:43:30] Bottom line.

[00:43:30] Just.

[00:43:30] You know.

[00:43:31] If you don't want to play by the rules.

[00:43:32] There's plenty of bars out there.

[00:43:34] We can just.

[00:43:34] You know.

[00:43:34] Cheat everybody if you like.

[00:43:35] And nobody would know the difference.

[00:43:37] Oh yeah.

[00:43:37] Dude.

[00:43:37] Go.

[00:43:38] Go in there.

[00:43:39] Bang rods.

[00:43:39] Go crazy.

[00:43:40] Yeah.

[00:43:41] Yeah.

[00:43:41] Just go.

[00:43:42] Go behind us.

[00:43:42] Nobody's going to know.

[00:43:44] Yeah.

[00:43:45] I don't know.

[00:43:45] Foosball's stupid.

[00:43:46] I hate it.

[00:43:47] Anyway.

[00:43:49] And I know.

[00:43:50] That's not true.

[00:43:52] But.

[00:43:53] So.

[00:43:54] We're.

[00:43:54] We're looking here at the end of the year.

[00:43:56] Um.

[00:43:57] I had a conversation the other day with Michael Stahl Jr.

[00:44:00] And he is.

[00:44:01] Yeah.

[00:44:01] Super.

[00:44:01] Super excited about 2025.

[00:44:03] And Foosball Clubs USA.

[00:44:05] Um.

[00:44:05] Yeah.

[00:44:06] He's.

[00:44:06] He's got some great things brewing.

[00:44:08] I guess.

[00:44:08] Um.

[00:44:09] But.

[00:44:09] Uh.

[00:44:10] I just want to make mention.

[00:44:11] Real quick here.

[00:44:12] That.

[00:44:12] Tomorrow's my birthday.

[00:44:14] And.

[00:44:15] Hey.

[00:44:16] Hey.

[00:44:16] Yo.

[00:44:17] How old are you going to be buddy?

[00:44:18] What are you at 40?

[00:44:19] Another trip around the sun.

[00:44:21] 66 times.

[00:44:22] Let's go.

[00:44:23] 66.

[00:44:24] Yeah.

[00:44:24] Let's go.

[00:44:25] Um.

[00:44:25] So.

[00:44:26] If you're on Facebook with me.

[00:44:28] You'll notice that.

[00:44:29] Um.

[00:44:29] If you want to really wish me a happy birthday.

[00:44:31] You can make a.

[00:44:32] Make a donation to Foosball Clubs USA.

[00:44:35] And.

[00:44:35] Let's go.

[00:44:36] You know.

[00:44:36] Just.

[00:44:37] Put.

[00:44:37] Put the money where the mouth is.

[00:44:39] Or.

[00:44:40] Yeah.

[00:44:40] Or Randy Raposo.

[00:44:41] Yeah.

[00:44:42] You cash out.

[00:44:43] We gotta.

[00:44:43] We gotta pay for this guy's.

[00:44:45] His psychiatric bills just went through the roof.

[00:44:48] So.

[00:44:49] Yeah.

[00:44:49] You have no idea.

[00:44:51] We need.

[00:44:51] We need your help.

[00:44:53] No.

[00:44:53] It's.

[00:44:53] Now listen.

[00:44:54] I don't.

[00:44:54] I don't need money for a shrink.

[00:44:56] I need money for.

[00:44:56] For a retainer.

[00:44:57] For my lawyer.

[00:44:59] Well that.

[00:45:00] That would go.

[00:45:01] Hand in hand.

[00:45:02] I think.

[00:45:03] But.

[00:45:04] Yeah.

[00:45:04] It's.

[00:45:05] It's true though.

[00:45:05] That.

[00:45:06] That.

[00:45:06] We are so.

[00:45:07] You know.

[00:45:08] Proud of.

[00:45:09] Michael Stahl.

[00:45:09] What he's been doing.

[00:45:10] Mark Drillette.

[00:45:12] Of the Foosball Clubs USA as well.

[00:45:14] Those guys are killing it.

[00:45:15] And.

[00:45:16] They're really.

[00:45:16] You know.

[00:45:17] Yeah.

[00:45:17] If they do half of what they want to do this next year.

[00:45:20] Dude.

[00:45:20] We're going to see some great results from that end of the sport.

[00:45:24] You know.

[00:45:24] Lots of new players coming up.

[00:45:26] A new crop.

[00:45:26] So to speak.

[00:45:27] So.

[00:45:28] That's.

[00:45:28] That's exciting.

[00:45:29] And I'm.

[00:45:30] Yeah man.

[00:45:31] All on board with that stuff.

[00:45:32] You know.

[00:45:33] Let's get some.

[00:45:33] Yeah.

[00:45:34] Mike.

[00:45:34] Mikey.

[00:45:35] Mikey.

[00:45:35] You want me to come into a school and teach kids foosball?

[00:45:37] Let me know bro.

[00:45:38] I'll come into a school and smack some kids around.

[00:45:40] Let's go.

[00:45:41] I can just see it now.

[00:45:43] Coach Randy.

[00:45:44] Coach Randy.

[00:45:45] Yeah.

[00:45:46] That's me.

[00:45:47] What am I supposed to do?

[00:45:48] What am I supposed to do?

[00:45:49] Shut up.

[00:45:50] Shut up.

[00:45:51] You got detention.

[00:45:52] That's it.

[00:45:53] Hit the showers.

[00:45:55] Yeah.

[00:45:55] Get out of here.

[00:45:56] We had.

[00:45:57] Shut up.

[00:45:57] We had a.

[00:45:58] A phys ed.

[00:45:59] A phys ed teacher and a.

[00:46:00] And a football coach named Roby.

[00:46:03] Back in the day.

[00:46:04] In the 70s.

[00:46:05] And he was.

[00:46:05] He was from the city.

[00:46:06] Right.

[00:46:06] And he looked like he'd had his.

[00:46:08] His nose broken a couple of times.

[00:46:09] And I guess he was.

[00:46:10] He was a boxer at one point.

[00:46:12] But.

[00:46:13] Okay.

[00:46:13] He was always.

[00:46:15] Hey Robinson.

[00:46:16] Hit the showers.

[00:46:18] Hit the showers.

[00:46:19] Hit the showers.

[00:46:21] So in other words.

[00:46:21] You're done.

[00:46:22] Get out of here kid.

[00:46:23] Go hit the showers.

[00:46:24] You're done.

[00:46:24] That's right.

[00:46:25] Yeah.

[00:46:26] Listen.

[00:46:27] I've heard.

[00:46:27] I've heard that.

[00:46:28] I've heard that plenty of times Tom.

[00:46:30] Kicked out of a hockey game.

[00:46:31] You're done buddy.

[00:46:32] Hit the showers.

[00:46:33] Let's go.

[00:46:33] You're done.

[00:46:34] Yeah.

[00:46:37] We've had it with you.

[00:46:38] Get out of here.

[00:46:39] Get out of here.

[00:46:40] Oh boy.

[00:46:41] Oh.

[00:46:42] So.

[00:46:42] So much fun.

[00:46:43] If only.

[00:46:44] If only.

[00:46:44] If only it was that easy.

[00:46:45] Now it's.

[00:46:46] Are you okay?

[00:46:47] Do you need to go sit in a safe space?

[00:46:49] Right.

[00:46:50] Are you okay?

[00:46:51] Yeah.

[00:46:52] Oh.

[00:46:52] Oh.

[00:46:53] You need to sit in a safe space.

[00:46:54] Safe space.

[00:46:54] Yeah.

[00:46:55] No.

[00:46:55] We're not doing that.

[00:46:56] Yeah.

[00:46:56] There needs to be some.

[00:46:57] Some kind of happy medium.

[00:46:59] In between.

[00:47:00] You know.

[00:47:00] That.

[00:47:01] And the.

[00:47:01] The past.

[00:47:02] Back in the 70s.

[00:47:03] Yeah.

[00:47:03] You know.

[00:47:04] Yeah.

[00:47:05] Look.

[00:47:06] I remember the 80s.

[00:47:07] Tom.

[00:47:08] I was raised in the 80s.

[00:47:09] Tom.

[00:47:09] Again.

[00:47:10] When your mother would.

[00:47:11] When your mother would hand write you a note.

[00:47:13] Yep.

[00:47:13] And send you to the store to buy beer.

[00:47:15] Right.

[00:47:15] And cigarettes.

[00:47:16] You're like.

[00:47:17] Yeah.

[00:47:17] You're 11 years old.

[00:47:18] You walk into the store.

[00:47:19] And you.

[00:47:19] What you want.

[00:47:20] You want a pack.

[00:47:21] A cotton of Marlboros.

[00:47:22] And a 24 pack of Bud Light.

[00:47:23] You hand her a note.

[00:47:24] Right.

[00:47:26] And she's just like.

[00:47:27] And she's just like.

[00:47:28] This note's written in crayon.

[00:47:29] This isn't your mother's handwriting.

[00:47:31] What are you talking about?

[00:47:33] I promise.

[00:47:34] I promise.

[00:47:35] It's from my mother.

[00:47:35] I promise.

[00:47:38] You can't do that now.

[00:47:39] You can't do that now.

[00:47:40] I actually did that.

[00:47:41] As a kid.

[00:47:43] Went to the.

[00:47:43] Tom.

[00:47:44] The corner store.

[00:47:45] The corner of Bodego.

[00:47:46] You think I made this story up, Tom?

[00:47:48] Come on.

[00:47:53] And look where we are now.

[00:47:55] I mean.

[00:47:55] Come on.

[00:47:56] You know.

[00:47:56] It didn't hurt us.

[00:47:59] Ah, dude.

[00:48:00] Ah, made us stronger, bro.

[00:48:01] I'm telling you.

[00:48:01] All that hose water.

[00:48:03] All that warm hose water.

[00:48:04] Yep.

[00:48:04] Woo.

[00:48:05] You get.

[00:48:07] Oh, yeah, dude.

[00:48:09] Why?

[00:48:09] That's why, bro.

[00:48:10] My immune system's lined with steel now from all that warm hose water in the summer.

[00:48:16] Yeah.

[00:48:17] And riding in the back of the pickup truck.

[00:48:20] You know.

[00:48:20] In the middle of a summer night.

[00:48:23] You know.

[00:48:23] Oh, yeah.

[00:48:24] Oh, yeah.

[00:48:24] Four or five kids and the dog in the back of the pickup truck.

[00:48:27] You know.

[00:48:27] Just flying down the highway.

[00:48:29] No biggie.

[00:48:30] Yeah.

[00:48:31] Well.

[00:48:31] Okay.

[00:48:32] Okay.

[00:48:32] So, my buddy had a pickup in high school.

[00:48:35] Right?

[00:48:35] Like a single cab Ford F-150.

[00:48:37] Right?

[00:48:37] Yep.

[00:48:38] And we went to a football game.

[00:48:40] You know.

[00:48:41] Friday night.

[00:48:41] High school football.

[00:48:42] We leave the game.

[00:48:44] Right?

[00:48:44] There's three people in the cab.

[00:48:46] Right?

[00:48:46] There's nine of us in the bed of the truck laying down.

[00:48:49] Right?

[00:48:50] Going up Route 6.

[00:48:53] Which is like.

[00:48:54] It's like a four-lane highway.

[00:48:56] Like two-lane, two-lane split with a median.

[00:48:58] Right?

[00:48:58] Yep.

[00:48:59] And we come up to the red light.

[00:49:00] And there's a car full of kids from the other school.

[00:49:03] There's four kids in this car.

[00:49:04] And they start taking a fight with the three kids in the truck.

[00:49:08] Right?

[00:49:08] Uh-oh.

[00:49:09] They start yelling.

[00:49:10] And then the guy driving the truck tapped on the back window.

[00:49:13] And we all popped our heads up.

[00:49:14] And these kids ran through a red light, Tom.

[00:49:17] They took right the hell off.

[00:49:18] They were so scared.

[00:49:20] Oh, yeah.

[00:49:21] That's the best.

[00:49:22] Oh, yeah.

[00:49:23] Oh, yeah.

[00:49:24] Dude.

[00:49:25] I, dude.

[00:49:25] I, man.

[00:49:26] I wish I could go back and be a kid again.

[00:49:28] Right?

[00:49:28] I hate.

[00:49:29] But I can work and responsibility and build.

[00:49:33] I just want to be a kid and play foosball.

[00:49:36] That's it.

[00:49:36] Right?

[00:49:37] Oh, think about that.

[00:49:38] Right?

[00:49:38] If you had known about foosball, let's say, you know, when you're 12, 13 years old,

[00:49:43] and you, you know, spent most of your days doing that, think about what kind of player

[00:49:47] you'd be today.

[00:49:48] My dad would have probably disowned me.

[00:49:51] Right?

[00:49:52] Right.

[00:49:52] I get you.

[00:49:53] I get you.

[00:49:54] We can't all be like Sam tonight.

[00:49:56] I know.

[00:49:57] I know.

[00:49:58] I wish, Tom.

[00:50:00] Oh, man.

[00:50:01] He's, uh, he is.

[00:50:03] We, we just played him at the, uh, you know, the smash down a couple of weekends ago.

[00:50:07] Uh, I was playing, uh, playing against him in the open and, and, uh, my partner was actually

[00:50:11] passing through his, his five row almost at ease, almost at will.

[00:50:16] And John, John Bedoin.

[00:50:18] John Bedoin.

[00:50:19] Yeah.

[00:50:19] And, uh, Samsonite was getting a little teed off and he was taking out on me and the goal.

[00:50:24] I mean, he's quite literally taking it out on me.

[00:50:28] Um, although I think I might've blocked 20% of shots maybe.

[00:50:33] Well, that, that guy, John, I remember him when I started playing, he was around.

[00:50:36] Yes.

[00:50:37] He always had a nice, nice smooth five, nice shot.

[00:50:41] He was a good player back in the day, man.

[00:50:43] Look, I saw him beat Billy in singles at Jillian's once.

[00:50:48] They had like a, you know, a draw doubles and singles at Jillian's.

[00:50:51] Billy was like 16.

[00:50:52] I saw him beat Billy.

[00:50:54] Wow.

[00:50:54] I saw him beat Billy straight up.

[00:50:55] Yeah, man.

[00:50:56] No kidding.

[00:50:57] Jeez.

[00:50:58] Yeah.

[00:50:58] That do could play.

[00:50:59] That do could play, man.

[00:51:00] Oh yeah.

[00:51:01] Oh yeah.

[00:51:02] We're, we're gunning for, uh, for Eric Shea and, and, uh, and Stevie Batista next time.

[00:51:08] Yeah.

[00:51:08] Next time.

[00:51:09] Yeah.

[00:51:10] Oh man.

[00:51:11] You, you, you know, it's just one of them things, Tom.

[00:51:14] You can get them next time.

[00:51:15] I know.

[00:51:15] That's it.

[00:51:16] I mean, they, they, they got it this time, but not next time.

[00:51:19] That's it.

[00:51:20] Well, Eric, Eric, Eric Shea, um, Eric Shea's improving.

[00:51:24] He's playing really well.

[00:51:25] Oh, Steve.

[00:51:25] It's great.

[00:51:27] Steve, Steve, uh, Steve will surprise you, man.

[00:51:29] Steve loves foosball.

[00:51:30] He likes having a good time.

[00:51:31] So he's just, uh, you know, he can bust, he can bust some pretty good stuff out.

[00:51:35] Oh yeah.

[00:51:36] Uh, I could see them, I could see them, I could see them giving anybody a hard time.

[00:51:41] Oh yeah.

[00:51:42] They, they, uh, double dipped us in the finals and the amateur dubs, man.

[00:51:45] And we were just, man, you know, it was so close.

[00:51:48] We were, you know, winner of winners.

[00:51:49] We were thinking we got this, you know, we got this and they come along and they ate our

[00:51:54] ice cream and went home.

[00:51:57] What flavor?

[00:51:59] Uh, always, it was Rocky Road.

[00:52:02] Oh, there was no, there was no fudge.

[00:52:05] It's Rocky Road.

[00:52:09] That's funny.

[00:52:10] It's humble pie.

[00:52:11] Yeah.

[00:52:12] That was a scoop of a scoop of Rocky Road on humble pie.

[00:52:16] Oh yeah.

[00:52:17] There's nothing like getting double dipped.

[00:52:18] It's such a, such a terrible feeling.

[00:52:20] I know.

[00:52:21] I know.

[00:52:21] It's like, man, you know, just, just if, but you know what?

[00:52:27] It, like you say, it just makes us more determined next time.

[00:52:29] It'll, it'll, it'll be different.

[00:52:31] So.

[00:52:32] That's it, man.

[00:52:33] That's it.

[00:52:34] So.

[00:52:34] Yeah.

[00:52:35] I'm just, I'm cruising home, man.

[00:52:37] I'm, I'm, uh, trying to get home to the wife.

[00:52:40] I'm glad, uh, I'm glad you let me come on and, uh, invent a little bit tonight.

[00:52:43] I mean.

[00:52:43] Let you come on.

[00:52:44] Now, wait a second.

[00:52:45] What do you mean?

[00:52:45] Let you come on.

[00:52:47] Well, you know, it's just, I'm dude, like I said, I'm, I'm, you know, I wasn't going

[00:52:52] to be fun tonight.

[00:52:57] You know, I, I, I should have, I should have, I should have gave you a little walkthrough

[00:53:00] of the room, but you know what?

[00:53:02] It's, you've seen the room that nothing's changed.

[00:53:04] That was another thing.

[00:53:06] Yeah.

[00:53:06] Okay.

[00:53:06] I can't even believe I forgot this.

[00:53:08] There was no streaming this weekend.

[00:53:11] What happened?

[00:53:12] What happened?

[00:53:13] Well, I mean, I saw the GoPro on table one and that was what I was watching, but that

[00:53:18] was it.

[00:53:19] That was all there was.

[00:53:20] Yeah.

[00:53:20] Uh, I don't know.

[00:53:21] Uh, I don't know why modern wasn't there.

[00:53:24] I don't know why inside wasn't there.

[00:53:25] There was very limited streaming.

[00:53:27] I don't know what happened.

[00:53:29] Um, I don't know.

[00:53:31] Uh, it was, I, I mean, I figured something would be there.

[00:53:34] Well, and I, I remember Clay and Adam saying that at Michigan, that that was going to be it

[00:53:39] for them or they had one more.

[00:53:40] Right.

[00:53:41] But, um, you know, Louisiana, I, I don't know what happened to them.

[00:53:45] So, you know, there was a lot of really good matches this weekend.

[00:53:48] Oh yeah.

[00:53:48] But nobody's ever going to see except for what was caught on table one.

[00:53:52] That's pretty much it.

[00:53:53] Yeah.

[00:53:54] Yeah.

[00:53:54] Well, I mean, it's, I, that is some, sometimes the case and, and what are you going to do?

[00:53:59] Hopefully next year they can do something about it.

[00:54:01] And maybe, uh, I, I would think with Ryan's new plans, uh, maybe that'll be like a standard.

[00:54:06] Will there be at least two to three tables covered on every single state tournament?

[00:54:10] Hope so.

[00:54:11] Fingers crossed.

[00:54:12] Yep.

[00:54:13] So, yeah.

[00:54:14] Yeah, man.

[00:54:15] That's it, Tom.

[00:54:16] Yeah.

[00:54:16] I'm going to take, I'm going to take it to the house, get some rest, forget about this

[00:54:20] weekend and, uh, and move on with my life.

[00:54:22] So.

[00:54:22] Now do you have to, uh, get up early from work again tomorrow?

[00:54:26] No, unfortunately I'm sick.

[00:54:28] Oh, I gotcha.

[00:54:30] Yeah.

[00:54:31] Got it.

[00:54:31] Okay.

[00:54:31] All right.

[00:54:32] Well, I hope you feel better soon.

[00:54:35] Yeah, dude.

[00:54:35] I've, I've been, I've been, uh, it's been coming out of both ends all weekend.

[00:54:39] So unfortunately I can't go to work.

[00:54:41] Gotcha.

[00:54:42] Yeah.

[00:54:42] Yeah.

[00:54:42] I get that, man.

[00:54:43] That's especially after a long weekend of, uh, of work.

[00:54:48] Yeah.

[00:54:48] Yeah.

[00:54:49] When you're, when you're making, when you're making number one out of number two, there's

[00:54:53] no way you can go to work.

[00:54:54] No, no, not a, not a place to be.

[00:54:57] That's for sure.

[00:54:57] Wow.

[00:54:58] No.

[00:54:58] I, well, I don't want to get anybody sick.

[00:55:00] So.

[00:55:00] Okay.

[00:55:01] All right.

[00:55:02] Well, uh, convalesce then, you know, take it easy, relax, you know, chill out.

[00:55:06] Oh, I'm gonna.

[00:55:07] Uh, yeah.

[00:55:08] Now my wife's got to work tomorrow.

[00:55:09] It's just going to be me and the dog.

[00:55:11] We're going to make a day of it.

[00:55:13] So, uh, and as we, as we get closer to the big day, uh, the holiday season, I know,

[00:55:20] are you one of those dudes that, that waits to, I don't know, the last day?

[00:55:24] Before you go out and, uh, get something for the wife or for the family for, uh, for Christmas?

[00:55:30] No, most of the shopping is already done.

[00:55:32] Oh, wow.

[00:55:33] I'm impressed.

[00:55:34] So my wife, my, well, my wife and I, we like, we have, we have our little tradition that we

[00:55:40] do, you know, it's, it's been over 10 years now.

[00:55:44] We have like, we have Christmas movies we watch.

[00:55:47] We, so as far as gifts go, like, you know, there's no kids.

[00:55:52] It's me.

[00:55:53] It's hurting myself.

[00:55:53] So it's like, what do you want?

[00:55:56] You know, cause again, we just, we just get whatever we want all year anyway.

[00:56:00] So it's like, what do you want?

[00:56:01] And, and I get her a little, so like, you know, she's got a little tree up.

[00:56:04] Cause when I was single, dude, there was no tree there.

[00:56:06] I don't, I'm a Grinch.

[00:56:07] It doesn't matter.

[00:56:08] So I do Christmas for her.

[00:56:11] But, but like Christmas day, we go to my in-laws.

[00:56:14] I think last year.

[00:56:16] So last year we actually went, we flew home to see my mom and my grandmother, my parents.

[00:56:20] And then we were there, flew out Christmas morning.

[00:56:23] We were back in Alabama by Christmas afternoon.

[00:56:25] So we actually got to spend Christmas with both of our families, which was really, really nice.

[00:56:30] Um, but this year, uh, this year, you know, um, it's just going to be, we're going to be home.

[00:56:37] Um, we will go to my in-laws, have breakfast.

[00:56:41] We do Christmas at my in-laws.

[00:56:43] And then we just, we just go to the house, dude, Christmas Eve.

[00:56:47] We've got a, we've got a handful of Christmas movies that we watch and we just spent some time together.

[00:56:52] You know, me, her and the dog.

[00:56:53] We're just, we're really thankful.

[00:56:55] Another year we get to be together.

[00:56:57] Our family's still intact.

[00:56:59] There you go.

[00:56:59] You know, again, we've been, we've been together a long time.

[00:57:03] We've been very fortunate.

[00:57:04] We haven't lost anybody.

[00:57:05] And, uh, and it, we're just, we're really blessed in that sense.

[00:57:08] And, uh, we know it's not gonna, you know, it's not going to last forever.

[00:57:13] But we're just, we just try to be as, you know, we, we count our blessings.

[00:57:16] We're thankful.

[00:57:17] We try to spend as much time together as we can.

[00:57:19] And like I said, we, we go.

[00:57:20] So home alone, home alone to, uh, nationally, nationally, national lampoons, Christmas vacation.

[00:57:27] Of course.

[00:57:28] Uh, we've been adding as we go.

[00:57:31] So we added four Christmases.

[00:57:34] Um, we added, uh, diehards in there because diehards are Christmas movie and I don't care.

[00:57:40] I'll argue with anybody.

[00:57:41] Diehards are Christmas movie.

[00:57:42] Uh, and I think there's one more.

[00:57:46] She knows she's got them and we watch them, but there's like, there's five or six movies

[00:57:50] and we just watch our movies and hang out.

[00:57:52] And, uh, and then I have a suggestion for, uh, for your, your list goes back to 1973.

[00:57:59] Um, and, uh, Karen Black is the actor, but it's called black Christmas.

[00:58:06] That's racist.

[00:58:07] Tom.

[00:58:07] I don't know.

[00:58:08] No, no.

[00:58:08] Oh no, no.

[00:58:09] It's, it's, uh, it's the, the, it's, it's, we're talking dark.

[00:58:13] I mean, seriously dark.

[00:58:14] It's a, it's, it's a, it's a thriller.

[00:58:17] It's a, it's a, I don't know what do you call it?

[00:58:19] Like a, like a horror film, but you never.

[00:58:22] What is it like?

[00:58:22] Is it a Hitchcock or something?

[00:58:24] What is it?

[00:58:24] Well, it's kind of like a Hitchcock because you never see the killer.

[00:58:27] There's a killer in this.

[00:58:28] Yeah.

[00:58:29] You never see the person that's committing the crimes, but you hear them and you know,

[00:58:34] they're doing their thing from the body count.

[00:58:36] But, uh, black Christmas, it dude, it's, it's an amazing film.

[00:58:40] And it was kind of, even it's in its day, you know, kind of unlimited release.

[00:58:44] But when you watch it, you will not shut the lights out at night.

[00:58:47] You just won't do it.

[00:58:49] You won't do it.

[00:58:50] Really?

[00:58:50] Yeah.

[00:58:51] I don't know.

[00:58:51] Tom, I might have to check it out.

[00:58:53] Black Christmas.

[00:58:54] Black Christmas.

[00:58:55] And it's, uh, we might be adding one this year.

[00:58:57] We might be adding one this year.

[00:58:59] It's out there.

[00:59:01] Okay.

[00:59:02] And yeah, I mean, we have, we have every streaming platform there is, so I'm sure we can find

[00:59:07] it.

[00:59:07] Oh, no doubt.

[00:59:08] Oh, it's out there.

[00:59:08] I'm, I'm, I'm sure if you just, you know, put it in the, uh, uh, you know, Netflix or,

[00:59:12] or Amazon or one of those that it'll come up in the list.

[00:59:15] Yeah.

[00:59:16] And no question.

[00:59:18] I'll check it out.

[00:59:18] Black Christmas.

[00:59:19] Yeah.

[00:59:19] It's, it's, um, it's, it's based in a small New England town.

[00:59:23] Go figure.

[00:59:24] Of course.

[00:59:25] Cause New England's creepy, Tom.

[00:59:27] It is.

[00:59:27] It's so creepy.

[00:59:28] It is.

[00:59:29] It really is.

[00:59:30] It's creepy as hell.

[00:59:31] It's.

[00:59:32] Holy crap.

[00:59:33] It's very much like the town.

[00:59:34] And I grew up in a small college town with lots of, uh, you know, uh, sororities and

[00:59:38] fraternities throughout the, uh, throughout the town.

[00:59:41] And this happens in a, it takes place in a sorority house.

[00:59:44] So I think you'll, uh, you'll find it really compelling.

[00:59:47] All right.

[00:59:48] Well, what, uh, what are you, uh, what are you in chief doing?

[00:59:51] Uh, well, the, the, the chief and I are, are planning on, uh, watching me convalesce

[00:59:56] for a good portion of the, of the holiday this year.

[00:59:59] Uh, I'm getting, getting minor surgery on December 23rd, just in time for the holidays.

[01:00:05] So.

[01:00:06] Okay.

[01:00:07] What do you, what do you, what do you have?

[01:00:08] Are you all right?

[01:00:09] Yeah.

[01:00:09] Yeah.

[01:00:09] It's just a, just a, a basic, um, hernia operation.

[01:00:12] So nothing, nothing too serious.

[01:00:14] Yeah.

[01:00:15] But, um, it takes a few days of pain pills to get through, but, um, yeah, right.

[01:00:21] I'm, I'm down for it and I'm looking forward to that.

[01:00:23] Let's go.

[01:00:24] Oh, yeah.

[01:00:25] And I get to be waited on for a couple of days.

[01:00:29] Um, no, it's, uh, I have eight days off at the end of the year.

[01:00:32] So I will be, I will be working hard to, to figure out what's going on for a foos talk

[01:00:38] live and foosball radio for 2025, uh, during my time off.

[01:00:42] So, um, yeah, and if you, if you've got some spare time, we'll have to, we'll just have

[01:00:46] to, uh, get together and, and, uh, you know, we'll come on, we'll come up with a, you

[01:00:50] know, a jam session and see what we can come up with next year.

[01:00:53] You know, you know, I always got time for you.

[01:00:55] Oh, appreciate that.

[01:00:57] No, man.

[01:00:58] I'm looking forward to, uh, I'm looking forward to next year and what's to come.

[01:01:03] So yeah, for sure.

[01:01:05] Big time.

[01:01:06] Well.

[01:01:07] For sure.

[01:01:07] So drive careful.

[01:01:09] Um, and don't, don't stew too long, man.

[01:01:11] It's, it's, it's still foosball and it's, you know, we still love you.

[01:01:15] You're still good.

[01:01:16] Ah, Hey, you know what, Tom?

[01:01:18] I'm already over it.

[01:01:19] See, I got it out now.

[01:01:20] I'm good.

[01:01:21] I'm over it.

[01:01:22] I'm open now.

[01:01:23] See, this is cathartic.

[01:01:25] Yeah, dude.

[01:01:26] I'm a jam out.

[01:01:26] See, why am I paying to shrink?

[01:01:27] I just talked to you.

[01:01:28] So I'm a jam out.

[01:01:30] Uh, nice.

[01:01:30] Hey Clay, if you're listening, if you're listening, Clay, Adam's got my number, dude, hit me up.

[01:01:35] And, uh, we can talk about things, but, uh, I got like, uh, three hours, three nights,

[01:01:42] something like that.

[01:01:42] I got a little bit of a ride.

[01:01:43] It's starting to rain a little bit, but I'm just going to cruise.

[01:01:45] Cool.

[01:01:46] And, uh, so, uh, yeah, Tom.

[01:01:50] Yeah.

[01:01:50] Always a pleasure.

[01:01:51] If you need anything, let me know.

[01:01:53] This is actually probably one of the more unusual episodes we've had in a while, but it's, I would

[01:01:57] say it's one of our better ones lately.

[01:01:59] Cause it, you know, it's, uh, we got, we got some honesty out today.

[01:02:02] Just a little bit of that.

[01:02:03] Well, what do you want?

[01:02:04] What do you want me to do, Tom?

[01:02:05] You want to get drunk and swear at you?

[01:02:07] Is that what you want?

[01:02:11] Oh, I can imagine what that would be like.

[01:02:13] Um, no, I think, uh, I think that we have to be honest about this, this, uh, the sport.

[01:02:20] And, uh, you know, that's one of the things I appreciate about doing live, live broadcasting.

[01:02:25] You can't take it back.

[01:02:26] It's out there forever.

[01:02:27] You know, it's, it's in the ether.

[01:02:29] And so, but, uh, you know, bring them on, right?

[01:02:32] So bring, bring them on and let's, uh, let's hope that people can start to learn to play by

[01:02:36] the rules.

[01:02:38] I hope so.

[01:02:38] Fingers crossed.

[01:02:39] Yeah, man.

[01:02:41] Yes, sir.

[01:02:41] All right.

[01:02:42] Well, let's talk next week, but, uh, this has been Foos Talk Live episode number 233.

[01:02:47] And of course, stick around because we've got a huge list, uh, coming up for the year 2025

[01:02:52] with the Foos Talk Live tournament beat.

[01:02:56] Later, Tom.

[01:02:57] Foosball tournaments are everywhere.

[01:03:00] Foos Talk Live proudly presents a weekly update of events near you with the Foos Talk Live tournament beat.

[01:03:08] Here's what's up.

[01:03:09] Be of good cheer with the Merry Christmas Foos for Shoes tournament with 50% of the proceeds

[01:03:15] going to shoes and socks for those in need.

[01:03:18] December 14th at Crane's Clubhouse, Alton, Illinois.

[01:03:22] It's the third annual New Hampshire State Championship December 21st at the Merrimack 10-pin.

[01:03:28] Merrimack, New Hampshire.

[01:03:30] Wrap up your year as 716 Buffalo Foosball proudly presents the Riverworks Annual Foosball Tournament.

[01:03:37] December 27th and 28th Buffalo Riverworks, Buffalo, New York.

[01:03:41] Looking ahead to next year.

[01:03:43] Don't miss the Central New York Winter Main Event, January 3rd and 4th at the Hometown Studios, Cortland, New York.

[01:03:51] East Coast Foosball presents a Saturday Foosball Tournament, January 5th at Merrimack 10-pin, Merrimack, New Hampshire.

[01:04:00] It's the second annual North American Leonhardt Championship, January 17th through the 19th, Montreal, Canada.

[01:04:07] Introducing the World Foosball Tour.

[01:04:10] Make your plans to compete at the $30,000 World Foosball Tour kickoff, January 30th through February 2nd, 2025.

[01:04:18] At the Clarion Hotel, Lexington, Kentucky.

[01:04:22] It's the 2025 South Dakota State Championship, February 21st through the 23rd, Royal River Casino, Flandro, South Dakota.

[01:04:31] Take your vacation with the 2025 Costa Rica Summer Beach Tournament, March 13th through the 16th at the Amapola Resort and Hotel, Jocko, Costa Rica.

[01:04:42] The 2025 Wisconsin Foosball State Championship, March 20th through the 23rd, Mad Apple Billiards in Appleton, Wisconsin.

[01:04:51] The 2025 Hall of Fame Classic, April 9th through the 13th at Westgate Las Vegas Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada.

[01:04:58] RK Foosball presents the 2025 Florida State Championships, May 1st through the 4th, Holiday in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Florida.

[01:05:09] The 2025 Minnesota State Foosball Championships, May 2nd through the 5th, Wyndham Garden, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

[01:05:18] The ITSF presents the 2025 Tornado World Series and ITSF Gold Series Finals, May 23rd through May 26th.

[01:05:28] At the Westin, Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, Dallas, Texas.

[01:05:32] Each week we do our best to give you the most up-to-date listing of foosball tournaments near you.

[01:05:37] If you have an event you'd like to add, send us all the details at foosballradio at gmail.com.

[01:05:43] Tune in every week for the Foos Talk Live Tournament Beat.

[01:05:49] Foos Talk Live is a product of Foos Ball Radio.

[01:05:52] With gratitude, we recognize our Foos Ball Radio Patreons.

[01:05:57] Our Foos Talk Live sponsor, original-leonhart-usa.com.

[01:06:02] And thanks to InsideFoos.com for use of their audio during the show.

[01:06:06] Tune in again next week for another episode of Foos Talk Live.

[01:06:10] In the meantime, we'll see you at Foosin'.

[01:06:13] Foosin'.

[01:06:13] Foos

[01:06:13] em

[01:06:13] Thank you.